St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-29


of the lowest castles are conveyed from
place to place, principally for gang or
contract work, at tritling cost.
Next to the engine and tender on this
train came huge luggage wagon, then
the saloon, fitted up in a manner similar
to that in which Pullman cars are fur
nished. Next to this were several in
termediate class carriages, partitloned
off into narrow sections, each contain
ing two seats running across the entire
width, with door at either end. Some
of these compartments are especially re-
served for white people-such as detach-
ments of British troops or European
members of the railroad staff.
The carriages reserved for the lowest
class of natives are more like cattle
trucks than anything else; wooden seats
are ranged along the side of each. These
will hold comparatively few. The car
riages are, however, usually packed so
that the occupants who are compelled to
stand are pressed nearly as close as her.
rings in box.
when the train had been drawn up,
occupying the entire length of the plat
form, notice was given by the guard that
there would be halt for twenty minutes.
Then a noise arose as if Pandemonium
had broken loose. Railway workmen
changed the wheels with heavy hammers,
guards and conductors passed along the
front, opening the doors, slamming them
again and answering questions. The
groups and parties SO recently noticed as
standing on the platform in moods more
or less tranquil now rushed about hither
and 1hither, looking for places in one or
other of the compartments, or anXlously
searching for expected friends.
CAS- my place had been secured before
hand in the saloon carriage, | felt at lib
erty, after making a casual survey of my
intended quarters, to remain on the plat
form until such time as the signal should
be given for a start. | was atterWard
glad that did this, it having been the
means of giving me further insight into
the interesting characteristic native Gus
toms and character.
Not very long after the train came
to a standstill and just after | had again
alighted on the platform from the car
riage, one of the conductors opened the
door of a middle-class compartment.
Hardly had he done SO, than there sprang
from the train at least a dozen Mo-
hammedans, all apparently of the
wealthiest class.
This was the signal for scene such
as | had never before witnessed. The
group of their ligionists had been
waiting near the cars for their friends to
alight. No sooner had the travellers
placed foot upon the platform than each
was seized with a bear-like hug and en-
braced on the mouth and neck in loud,
smacking manner by one of this enthusl-
astic reception committee. This hugging
and embracing appeared to be in every
case rec;procated and when I tell you
that among these twenty-four people or
Whereabouts the exercise had to be
passed around until each had been en-
braced you will understand that some
length of time elapsed before the opera
ton was brought to a close.
whilst this performance was in prog
ress, water-carriers or PAM acdttdhs
were doing their best to fill the brass
drinking vessels invariably carried by
all Hindoos, no matter what their caste OF
social position. Such yelling and shout
ing of men, women and children, all
CRYING for more water, | had not be
fore noticed during all my journeys by
rail
Then there were bread and fruit
vendors passing hurriedlv along, ex-
posing for sale tlour-cakes, biscuits
oranges, pomegranates and nuts OF every
imaginable size and shape. The ire
pressible newsboy piled his vocation
even here in Jubbulpoor.
"Presently came along the men who in
spect all tickets They are smart fel
lows, able as rule to talk volubly in al
dialects-and of these there are many
The inspection of tickets completed, the
time arrived for all to take their places
Looking at my watch found there was
still time for glance in at the windows
Starting from my carriage, l walked
rapidly down to the other end Of the
train and back. 1t had to be done
quickly, but there was time enough tC
see iast how people travel on Indian
roads.
NEARLY every compartment seemed tt
contain separate and distinct set. Eacf
of the more respectable Hindoo caste:
had it's own space, the partitions between
seats helping to assist in keeping up tht
exclusiveness desired. Mohammedan
were by themselves. So were the Parsee'
and the Brahmins. The native troop:
took up compartments specially assigned
to them. Whenever a new arrival rushed
on to the platform, ticket in hand, HI
seemed to divine the exact locality where
he would be most welcome and took hi
seat amid cordial and sometimes bolster
Gus greetings.
"By the time had returned, the las
doors were being fastened with a bans
and click, and then on a sign made by
the stationmaster, the engineer placed hi:
hand upon the valve throttle, shril
whistle rent the air and we were OFT
moving slowly but steadily toward oul
destination"
r. CAMPBELL-COPELAND.
California Prospects.